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Yeladim - Fair Chance for Children Young Adults Program

A home on the way to independent life

“I wasn’t looking for pity – just a place to start. I thought I’d be sleeping on friends’ couches. Instead, I was given a home.”

Liron, 21

Leaving residential care or foster families at 18 can feel like being thrown into deep water without a life jacket.
The door closes behind you, but adult life is only beginning.

Without family support, this moment can be confusing and lonely.
Where do you live? How do you start working? Who do you turn to when things get hard?
That’s where Bridge to Independence comes in.

The national Bridge to Independence program offers a network of transitional apartments, personal guidance, and a supportive peer community – along with real-life tools for adulthood. Here, young people are not alone.

The apartments are operated by Yeladim – Fair Chance for Children, Or Shalom, and SOS Children’s Villages, with support from the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs and philanthropic partners.

Participants Receive

A real home

safe, stable housing, not temporary arrangements or couch-surfing

Ongoing guidance

someone to talk to, at eye level, through questions and crises

A path to independence

at each young person’s own pace, with real support in decision-making

A living community

peers who truly understand one another

“At first, I didn’t know how to pay a bill or even cook a simple meal. In Bridge to Independence, I learned everything step by step – not just how to get by, but how to really live.”

Noa, 20

How It Works

• Around 48 transitional apartments across Israel, located in accessible areas close to public transport, employment, and everyday services, and serving young people from diverse backgrounds
• Six young adults in each apartment, living together, sharing daily responsibilities, and paying symbolic rent as they learn to manage independent life
• A personal mentor in every apartment – a consistent, trusted adult who offers guidance, support, and helps build an individual growth plan
• A defined period of residence – up to 3.5 years for women and 4.5 years for men (including military or national service), with continued support even after moving on
• A personalized plan for each participant, covering education, work, financial skills, emotional support, professional training, relationships, and more – built step by step together

 

“I thought that once I left residential care, I was supposed to know how to handle everything. I didn’t – money, dealing with a landlord, even asking for help. Here, I learned that it’s okay to ask. Someone listens. Someone looks out for me. I’m not alone.”

Suha, 19

 

The Numbers Tell the Story

  • 1000

    +

    young adults

    have taken part in Bridge to Independence in recent years

  • 80

    %

    successfully move

    into employment, meaningful service, or education

Participants report increased confidence, independence, and a stronger sense of capability.

Want to Hear What It’s Like from the Inside?

Listen to an episode of our podcast Lights Out (in Hebrew), where young adults talk openly about life after residential care - independence, fear, love, and hope.

Listen to Lights Out

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